Score Chapter 3: Ancient Egypt and Nubia Lesson 2: Life in Egypt Textbook pages 84 to 90 Name: Ms. Samuels - answers Class/Period: Date: Essential Questions Why do you think the two kingdoms may have united? Notes: to work together to protect the entire country from outside invaders; to share ideas and natural resources Who was the first king to wear the double crown? It may have been King Menes, King Scorpion, or King Narmer, but no one knows for sure. What makes Manetho so important to historians? Manetho began to keep written records of the pharaohs who reigned over Egypt. Without these written records, much less would be known about the time period. Why were the crowns of Upper and Lower Egypt combined? (diagram) to form a double crown for the ruler as a symbol of a unified Egypt Why do we not know for certain who united Upper and Lower Egypt? Few written records from the period have been found by archaeologists. Summary: Unifying Egypt Upper and Lower Egypt were combined about 3150 B.C. The Egyptian people began to refer to their king as a pharaoh during the New Kingdom. 1
What discovery led to the evental decoding of hieroglyphics? How did it help archaeologist? The discovery of the Rosetta Stone. Archaeologists could compare the hieroglyphics to Greek words found on the stone. What types of information did scribes record? amount of crops that were harvested, taxes that were owed Hieroglyphics were pictures that represented objects and What are Egyptian hieroglyphics, and how are they different from Sumerian picture writing? sounds. Sumerian pictographs represented only objects. Why was hieroglyphic writing made so difficult? so that not many people would be able to learn it Hieroglyphics used 700 different signs or pictures. This book s writing uses the 26 letters of the English alphabet. Hieroglyphics were written from left to right, right to left, or How is hieroglyphic writing the same as or different from the writing in the textbook? top to bottom. This book is written only from left to right and from top to bottom. 2
Summary: Egyptian Records Egyptians developed a form of writing called hieroglyphics in order to keep written records. Archaeologists were able to decode the hieroglyphics when they discovered the Rosetta Stone. The pyramids were like palaces. What does this tell you about the culture in Egypt? Kings (pharaohs) were considered to be gods or god-like. They remained god-like even after death. Why were pharaohs mummified? The afterlife was considered more important than life on Earth, so bodies needed to be prepared for the next life. all organs, except for the heart, were removed from the body What were the steps in the process of mummification? the body was rubbed with oils and perfumes the body was wrapped in linen bandages Who built the pyramids? When did they work on the construction? Farmers build the pyramids when the Nile was flooding and they could not work in their fields. Why and how did the Egyptians build pyramids? The Egyptians build the pyramids to be palaces for kings after their deaths. They may have cut granite blocks and dragged them to the building sites. 3
Summary: Pyramid Building The Egyptians began building large pyramids to serve as tombs for kings. Mummification preserved the bodies of the dead for the afterlife. Compare and contrast the Egyptian social structure during the Old Kingdom and the Middle Kingdom. Old : There were only two classes - kings and farmers Middle : The social structure had levels for craftspeople, scribes, and so on. The jobs show that Egyptians were able to grow much of What do the jobs described and the social structure reveal about what was important to the ancient Egyptians? their own food and that crafts and art were important. The mobility between classes shows that the Egyptians valued hard work. Similar : Rulers were at the top and were god-like, craftspeople and artisans were near the middle, and slaves How were the social class structures similar and different in Sumer and Egypt? were at the bottom. Different : The middle classes in Sumer included business people and landowner; in Egypt, nobles, priests, and merchants were in the middle. Summary: Social Life During the time of the Middle Kingdom, new social classes arose based on the jobs that needed to be done. 4
What made the Egyptian economy more prosperous? trade increased The economy became more prosperous as new goods came How did the growth of trade in the Middle Kingdom affect Egypt s economy? into the country, and a canal improved transportation and trade routes. Summary: Trade and Technology Egyptian trade helped their economy grow. New groups of people coming to Egypt marked a change and ushered in the New Kingdom period. Why did Akhenaten s advisor take control? He neglected his duties. What was different about how some pharaohs ruled during the New Kingdom? Some ruled with their sons or wives. Summary: New Kingdom Pharaohs New traditions took hold in the New Kingdom period. 5
Biography - Hatshepsut Essential Questions When did Hatshepsut rule in place of her nephew? Notes: when he was on military expeditions Based on her quotation, whom did Hatshepsut claim gave her the authority to be king of Egypt? She claimed her authority came from the sun god Ra. Summarize Hatshepsut s major contribution to Egypt. She sent expeditions to other countries that brought back riches to Egypt. She would have needed to prove herself, whereas a male Since Egyptians weren t accustomed to having female pharaohs; how would this have made ruling difficult for her? leader would have had the respect and support of the people from the beginning of his rule. 6